C.L.O.S.E HEARTS (Book 3)

Elias and Alexander have spent the last few years tangled in each other's orbit, their love steady and unshaken. But as the future looms closer, the reality of change begins to settle between them.

Elias has finally found his path-art. It's always been a part of him, but now he's ready to make it his future. He dreams of studying at an art school, of creating something lasting. Alexander, on the other hand, is still searching. With everyone around him settling into their ambitions, he feels stuck, torn between expectations and a desire for something he hasn't quite figured out yet.

When Elias is given the opportunity to spend time in a small artist village east of their countryside town, it feels like fate. A chance to grow, to learn, to connect with other artists. But distance is a fickle thing, and leaving Alexander behind-even for a little while-feels heavier than he expected.

In the village, Elias meets Leo, another young artist whose work is as intense as the walls he keeps up. At first, Leo is cold, unwilling to let Elias in. But as they spend time together, painting side by side, Leo's guarded nature begins to crack. He shares pieces of himself through his art-memories of a past he can't escape, pain etched into every brushstroke. Their bond grows, built on understanding and creativity, leaving Elias torn between admiration and the echoes of home pulling at his heart.

Meanwhile, Alexander struggles with Elias's absence more than he expected. The quiet of their town feels different without him. He finds himself thinking too much, questioning everything-what he wants, where he's going, who he'll be without Elias by his side every second of the day. And with the possibility of them attending different schools in the near future, the uncertainty gnaws at him.

As both boys navigate their own journeys-one of artistic discovery, the other of self-realization-they're faced with the biggest question of all: Can love stay the same when everything else is changing?